• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Click here to download the  free ebook of Alberto Juantorena’s  detailed training workouts leading up to the 1976 Montreal Olympics

SpeedEndurance.com

Success in Track & Field ... and Life

  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
  • Track & Field
    • 400 meters
    • 800m & Mile
    • 1/2 & Full Marathons
    • Long & Triple Jump
    • Hurdles
  • Training
    • Weight Training
    • Abs & Core
    • Injury Prevention
    • Shoes & Spikes
    • Masters
  • Coaching
    • Freelap Friday Five
    • Interviews
    • Sports Nutrition
    • Sport Psychology
  • Archives
  • Shop
    • My account
    • Checkout
    • Basket

Rocktape: The Hottest Trend in Track & Field Performance

You are here: Home / Coaching / Rocktape: The Hottest Trend in Track & Field Performance
27
SHARES
FacebookTwitter

August 1, 2012 by Jimson Lee 4 Comments

Last Updated on March 10, 2013 by Jimson Lee

Last week, I briefly wrote about Rocktape after posting a photo of Damu Cherry, Charonda Williams, Kellie Wells.  This article is guest blogged by Morgan Sjogren.  She writes for Track and Field Athletes Association (TFAA) and her own Blog is Running [Dharma] Bums.  (By the way, I am a huge Jack Kerouac fan!)

Rocktape: The Hottest Trend in Track & Field Performance

By Morgan Sjogren

If you’ve been following Track and Field this summer, you may have noticed that the hottest new "accessory" amongst athletes is brightly colored athletic tape all over their bodies!  Rocktape is one of the most popular is the leader amongst these brands, not only because the tape comes in unique and trendy colors and patterns, but more important, because Rocktape uses a technology that goes beyond injury treatment to also enhance performance.

Rocktape is a thin, stretchy hi-tech athletic tape that can be used to treat a wide variety of sports injuries such as shin splints, IT band, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendon, runner’s knee and a host of others. It is the “Gold Standard” in Kinesiology Tape.

When applied properly, Rocktape lifts the skin away from the muscle, which promotes blood flow and relieves pressure on pain receptors located just below the skin. Faster blood flow means more oxygen and more lymph drainage, which helps performance. In the case of injury, Rocktape can be used to stabilize and encourage proper muscle activation patterns without reducing range of motion.

Melaine Walker & Lashinda Demus. Photo Credits: AP Photo, Lionel Cironneau

Rocktape is currently used by several U.S. Track and Field Olympians including Lashinda Demus (400 Hurdles) and Kellie Wells (100 Hurdles) who are headed to the Olympic Games in London this month.

See also  Achilles Tendinitis: How to Strengthen the Achilles Tendon (Part 3)

Lashinda, who is also the American Record Holder in the 400 Hurdles, uses Rocktape to deal with what she considers one of the biggest obstacles in Track and Field—injuries. Because sprinting relies heavily on an athlete’s legs, she says, “that if anything is slightly wrong, it throws off everything,” so she uses Rocktape to “hold those muscles together and keep them elongated.” This same concept can be used to help enhance the performance of non-injured muscles during training and competition.

Injury is certainly not the only use for Rocktape. 2008 Olympian Tiffany Ross-Williams (400 Hurdles) says, “Rocktape has been really good in aiding my recovery and during my workouts,” and uses Rocktape on her calves most frequently. Rocktape enhances the recovery process by decompressing swollen tissue after hard workouts or races. Because Rocktape stays in place for up to 5 days, athletes get both the performance and recovery benefits on a constant basis for a boost of legal performance enhancement.

Rocktape is like duct tape for the human body. Depending on the application, Rocktape can:

  • Decompress swollen tissue (trauma)
  • Compress muscle onto bones (shin splints)
  • Reduce swelling (edema) Increase venous blood flow
  • Correct biomechanical dysfunction (patella femoral)
  • Treat lymphadema
  • Increase range of motion (shoulder impingement)
  • Provide proprioceptive queuing (increase athletic form)
  • Provide postural control (neck stress associated with forward head carriage)

damu cherry with rocktape

And what about the unique prints and colors that Rocktape offers? 2008 Olympian Damu Cherry (400 Hurdles) loves the Tattoo print Rocktape, while 2011 World Championship Silver Medalist Danielle Carruthers (100 Hurdles) was spotted at the Paris Diamond League Meet wearing Tiger print Rocktape. The patterns and colors give athletes a chance to accessorize, express their individuality and match their uniforms during competitions.

See also  2011 Rome Golden Gala - Men's 100 meters Heats

Rocktape spent some time with the Track and Field Rock Stars during the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon. Watch this exclusive video to find out why the U.S.’s fastest athletes love Rocktape!

Category iconCoaching,  Track & Field,  Training Tag iconAchilles Tendinitis,  Morgan Sjogren

About Jimson Lee

I am a Masters Athlete and Coach currently based in London UK. My other projects include the Bud Winter Foundation, writer for the IAAF New Studies in Athletics Journal (NSA) and a member of the Track & Field Writers of America.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. antonio says

    August 1, 2012 at 2:37 am

    how different is this from other physio tape?

    Reply
  2. steve says

    August 1, 2012 at 10:41 am

    despite the endorsement by athletes and trainers I doubt that this tape would have any measurable effect on muscle function if subjected to a rigorous study.
    however, it looks great!!

    Reply
  3. James Spelling says

    August 7, 2012 at 5:01 am

    This looks great. I will definitely try ti out for shin splints!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Recommended

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xbs-aWxyLk

Shop Our Store

  • Bud Winter (9)
  • Championship Productions (6)
  • Clyde Hart (2)
  • Derek Hansen (1)
  • Electrical Muscle Stimulation (2)
  • Jim Hiserman (6)
  • Jimson Lee (4)
  • Uncategorised (0)

Articles by Category

Products

  • Jim Hiserman - Developing 800m Runners: Identifying, Categorizing and Developing 400m-800m Type Athletes $42.99 $39.99
  • Private Coaching - Monthly Plan $600.00 $525.00
  • Jim Hiserman-Developing-Distance-Runnersv2 Jim Hiserman - Developing Distance Runners Volume 2: A Systematic Approach to Developing Individual Success within a Dynamic Team Culture $34.95 $29.95
  • Feed-the-Cats-Clinic-3-Pack-701 'Feed the Cats' Clinic 3-Pack $64.99
  • Tony Holler's Feed the Cats": A Complete Sprint Training Program Tony Holler's "Feed the Cats" Complete Sprint Training Program $49.99
  • Bud Winter and Speed City presents Arthur Lydiard 509x716 Bud Winter & Arthur Lydiard MP3 [Download only] $9.99

RECENT POSTS

  • IFAC 2022: The Return of In-Person Conferences (with Virtual option)
  • Here is our 400m Discussion Recording… over 2 Hours Long
  • The Best Free Coaching Book – post Beijing 2022 Olympics
  • The Ultimate 400m Track Webinar for Coaches & Athletes
  • NACAC Athletics Coaching Science Series 2022
  • Top Six 400m Predictor Workouts (Number 4 is my Favourite)
  • Best 6 Podcasts for 2021 (and Beyond)
  • Why Karsten Warholm’s 45.94 400mH WR is my Highlight of 2021
  • Sprinting: 10 Research Articles for Effective Sprint Training [Part 23]
  • Pressure in Sports – Reflections from Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Copyright © 2023. SpeedEndurance.com is owned and operated by Aryta Ltd. Privacy Policy
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy